White truffle brings record price

LONDON, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- A 3.3-pound truffle discovered by a dog in Italy brought a record-breaking $330,000 at auction.

Billionaire Stanley Ho, a Chinese casino tycoon from Macau, outbid British artist Damien Hirst and Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed of Abu Dhabi Saturday night to win the fungal delicacy, the BBC reported.

Luciano Savini said his truffle dog, Rocco, discovered the highly prized fungus near Pisa, the BBC reported Sunday.

"The biggest truffle of the century and the most expensive truffle of the century. There are no more words to say -- it is all very beautiful," said Savini, who donated the proceeds to charity.

The truffle auction was held simultaneously in Macao, London and Florence, the BBC reported.